Chapter 132: Serious Business!
The sun had already sunk behind the mountains and fields. Its orange-red afterglow faded beneath the thick evening mist, while a slightly warm breeze brushed against their cheeks, carrying the faint drowsiness of twilight.
"Finally, it's over~"
Stella stretched both arms high above her head.
The Hagun Academy uniform outlined her graceful figure, and her thighs, wrapped in smooth black stockings, stood out vividly under the fading light.
Her bouncy red twin-tails swayed with every light step, broadcasting her cheerful mood without any attempt at concealment.
"Is there really any need to be that excited?" Kurogane Shizuku glanced sideways at her with open disdain.
"Of course there is!" Stella puffed out her cheeks. "Just standing there watching them practice all afternoon while I couldn't do anything was pure torture!"
"It's your own fault you can't practice right now."
After Ayatsuji Kaito had been revived that afternoon, Shiro had spent the entire time in the hospital courtyard learning the secrets of [Ayatsuji Ittou-ryuu] from its former master.
Because of the old man's still-fragile health, however, the role of demonstrator had fallen to Ayatsuji Ayase. Unfortunately, Ayase herself had yet to master the school's ultimate technique.
Kurogane Ikki changed that.
After listening to Kaito's verbal explanation of the principle and watching Ayase perform the form once, Ikki had reproduced [Ten'i Muho] on the spot—flawlessly.
Kaito had stared in stunned silence before muttering "genius" under his breath.
For a brief moment he even considered taking Ikki as a disciple, only to realize there was nothing left to teach someone who had already grasped the ultimate technique.
In the end he kept the thought to himself.
From that moment on, Shiro's instructor switched from Ayase to Ikki.
The principle behind [Ten'i Muho] was similar to the force-redirection technique Shiro had once called [Kenkyoku: Tsurugi no Mai]—one a matter of footwork, the other of handwork.
With the foundation he already possessed, Shiro had picked it up in a single afternoon under Ikki's guidance.
Now, of the three people present in the hospital yard, only Ayase had yet to master her family's ultimate technique.
Watching the two of them exchange pointers while she could only sit on the lawn outside, Stella felt as though a thousand ants were crawling beneath her skin.
Unable to stay idle any longer, she had decided to use the time to explore the true nature of her own Blazer ability—the one Shiro had hinted might be far more than simple fire control.
The result had been… dramatic.
The entire hospital had suddenly trembled as though struck by an earthquake.
Stella had barely taken one experimental step when the ground heaved violently beneath her feet. She had frozen on the spot, heart pounding, and immediately stopped.
Thankfully the patients inside had suffered nothing worse than a few startled cries; otherwise she would have been apologizing for the rest of her life.
"This is the first time I've ever seen someone depressed because their Blazer ability is too powerful…" Shizuku murmured, her expression complicated.
Until today she had believed her combat strength was at least comparable to Stella's. Attribute advantage or not, she had even thought she might win in a serious fight.
Yet in the blink of an eye the gap had widened so dramatically that Shizuku felt a quiet sense of loss settle in her chest. At the same time, a new fire had been lit. She would not simply accept being left behind.
Under the cover of night the group finally returned to Hagun Academy, chatting and laughing along the stone path. They had barely reached the main gate when a petite figure in a fiery-red haori stepped out and blocked their way.
"Nene?"
Shiro recognized her at once.
It was Saikyo Nene—the same woman who had vanished after the massive commotion they had caused at Hagun a month earlier. Shinguji Kurono had promptly "sentenced" her to hard labor as commentator for Ikki's impromptu training sessions. Apparently the Director had finally released her.
"Oh my~ Lend me my cute junior for a little while, will you? I have something very important to tell him~"
Before anyone could react, Nene grabbed Shiro by the wrist and dragged him away, leaving Stella and the others staring after them in bewilderment.
"You can sit there for a bit. I'll make some tea first."
The room carried a faint maiden's fragrance. Various articles of clothing were casually piled on the bed. Nene had Shiro sit on the tatami, then disappeared into the kitchen and returned with a teapot and several cups.
"The Director finally let you out," Shiro remarked, taking a careful sip. His intuition warned him it was wiser not to comment on the state of the bed for the time being.
"This incident involves some rather important people, so Kuro-chan couldn't keep me locked up forever."
Nene wore her usual sly smile.
"Kuro-chan told me to pass on a message when she let me go. The branch chief of the Japanese division of the League of Mage-Knight Nations wants to meet you in two days."
"…Who?"
Shiro's brow furrowed slightly.
What business could the Japanese branch chief possibly have with him? Had the matter with Edelweiss guarding Edelberg been exposed somehow? The name felt vaguely familiar, yet he couldn't quite place it.
"Hmm? I mean Kurogane Itsuki. You should know the name, right?"
At Nene's reminder, everything clicked into place.
Kurogane Itsuki. Current head of the Kurogane family. Branch chief of the Japanese division of the League of Mage-Knight Nations. And, most importantly, Kurogane Ikki's biological father.
The reason for the sudden summons was not hard to guess.
According to Ikki himself, every member of his family except Shizuku had opposed his decision to become a Mage-Knight. That was why he had come to Hagun alone.
Now that Ikki's performance in the Seven Star Sword Art Festival selection battles had been nothing short of brilliant, the head of the family could no longer sit still. He probably intended to cut off Ikki's path before it could grow any further.
But why involve me? Shiro wondered.
Just as he was turning the question over in his mind, Nene abruptly changed the subject.
"Alright, I've delivered Kuro-chan's message. Now let's talk about serious business~"
"Eh? Wasn't that the serious business?"
"That was your serious business. It has nothing to do with me."
Nene's smile widened. She kicked off her wooden clogs, and her bare feet made soft tapping sounds against the tatami as she walked toward him.
The next moment, Shiro felt something small, soft, and light settle into his arms—like a cat that had decided the spot belonged to it.
The atmosphere in the room changed instantly.
Nene's breathing had quickened. She tugged her outer haori and the kimono beneath it downward just enough to bare the milky-white skin of her shoulders and collarbone to the air.
Then she slipped her arms around his neck, leaned in close, and exhaled a warm breath against his ear.
"Now this," she whispered, voice low and sweet, "is my true serious business~"
…
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